MARITIME

​Maritime Group

The Maritime Working Group (WG MARITIME) works to prevent any pollution from ships – including deliberate operational discharges as well as accidental pollution.

Increasing maritime transportation threatens fragile ecosystems and the livelihoods of the many people who depend on the sea. During the last decade shipping has steadily increased, reflecting intensifying co-operation and economic prosperity around the Baltic Sea region. Between 2006 and 2016, an average of 1,340 IMO registered ships were at sea each day, including hundreds of tankers carrying oil or other potentially harmful products. It is estimated that the transportation of goods by sea will continue to increase in the Baltic region. General cargo and container traffic is expected to triple, and oil transportation may increase by 40%. The expansion and construction of oil terminals on the shores of the Gulf of Finland and regional economic growth may lead to even higher increases in shipping.

Shipping is an international business that needs international regulations. All ships sailing the Baltic have to comply with the strict global and regional regulations, regardless of whatever flag they are sailing under.

HELCOM MARITIME at work

The group works to:

ensure that adopted regulations are observed and enforced effectively and uniformly through close international co-operation